As we reflect on the account of the miraculous catch, the Church reminds us that without the risen Christ, our efforts remain sterile. But with him, everything becomes possible: he renews our lives, makes himself present in our simplest actions, and unites us in a living communion.
“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’” (John 21:3)
A fruitless return to the life before
Today’s Gospel reminds us that after the death of Jesus, the disciples returned to their nets.
For three years, Simon Peter and the others had lived an extraordinary experience at the side of Christ. They had stood next to the one who preached to five thousand on the Mount of Beatitudes. And now, after his terrible end in Jerusalem, they were simply fishermen again.
And even that did not succeed. The Gospel tells us: “That night they caught nothing.” Without Jesus, nothing succeeds. Nothing at all.
A life-changing encounter
But the Gospel does not leave us in sadness. It recounts a marvelous encounter that will completely transform the disciples’ lives.
On the shore stands a man who asks if they have any food. Their nets are empty, so they have nothing to offer. He tells them to cast the net on the right side of the boat — and it works! They catch so many fish they cannot even haul the net in.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved recognizes him and says to Peter: “It is the Lord!”
Why didn’t they recognize him right away?
We might wonder why the disciples did not recognize Jesus immediately. This same question arises in all the resurrection accounts in the Gospels.
On the road to Emmaus, the two disciples didn’t recognize him either. Saint Luke writes: “Their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16) And only when he broke the bread with them did they realize who he was.
Likewise, in today’s Gospel, the moment of recognition comes during a shared meal: “Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.” (John 21:13)
Saint John gives us a crucial insight here: the Risen One is not recognized by appearance, but by his saving actions.
- In Emmaus, he is recognized in the breaking of the bread.
- At the lake, it is in the simple gesture of a meal, of giving, that he is revealed.
This opens up the possibility of encountering Jesus for us today.
A promise for our time
The miracle of the catch at the Sea of Tiberias still speaks to us today: it is the Lord who gives, and his gifts come from the fullness of his love.
Even more important is the communion he offers. When we gather as Church, to hear the Word of God and to share the Bread of Life, we can be confident that the Lord will reveal himself to us.
And we too, like John, will be able to recognize him with the eyes of love, and say: “It is the Lord!”
Truly present among us
Yes, we can believe with certainty: when we gather as the Church, we do not merely remember Jesus. He is truly among us, just as he was at the lake of Gennesaret.
And in that faith, with Simon Peter and the other disciples, we recognize: Without Jesus, nothing succeeds. But with him, everything is possible.
With him, we can walk the path of faith and be witnesses of his resurrection in the world. Amen. Alleluia.
Prayer of the Day
Lord Jesus,
you come to meet us in the weariness of our fruitless nights.
Teach us to listen to your voice, to cast our nets at your word,
and to recognize you in the broken bread and the gathered community.
Give us, like John, a heart that sees with love,
and like Peter, the courage to follow you always.
Amen. Alleluia.
Scripture references
- John 21:1–14
- Revelation 5:11–14
- Acts 5:27b–32, 40b–41
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John
At that time,
Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples
by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way.
Together were Simon Peter,
Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.
Simon Peter said to them,
“I am going fishing.”
They said to him,
“We also will come with you.”
So they went out and got into the boat,
but that night they caught nothing.
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore;
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to them,
“Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
So he said to them,
“Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.”
So they cast it,
and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
“It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
The other disciples came in the boat,
for they were not far from shore,
only about a hundred yards,
dragging the net with the fish.
When they climbed out on shore,
they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them,
“Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.
Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them,
“Come, have breakfast.”
And none of the disciples dared to ask him,
“Who are you?”
because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples
after being raised from the dead.
To read the readings of the day, visit Vatican News – May 4, 2025.
For reflection
- Am I sometimes tempted to “go back to my nets,” as if Jesus were no longer there?
- Do I try to recognize Christ in the ordinary gestures of daily life?
- Do I trust that his presence transforms everything — even failure?
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